5 Reasons Why You're Overeating

You may have recently put on a few pounds and are not sure why. Or, perhaps you've been working out diligently, but still can't get rid of those pesky love handles. You may, in fact, need to start paying closer attention to your eating habits.

Many men overeat and don't even realize it; in fact, eating is often tied into so many other activities that it's hard to pinpoint when overeating takes place.

However, if you tend to absentmindedly munch on chips while watching TV, gorge on buttered popcorn at the movies (even though you've already eaten dinner) or accept a second helping of mom's meatloaf even though you're stuffed, you may be consuming larger portions and eating more often than you need to.

To discover if you're eating enough for a man three times your size, you need to examine your eating patterns to determine how often you really are eating, and — more importantly — why you're overeating. Overeating is most often a symptom of an underlying problem, not the cause.

Once you realize why you're overeating, you can deal with the real issue behind your eating habits and be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.

what is overeating?

Before you can determine if you're overeating, you need to make sure that your eating habits are not indicative of a more serious health issue. Compulsive overeating is an eating disorder, like anorexia (starving yourself) or bulimia (binge eating, then purging), and can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Compulsive overeating is often followed by feelings of guilt and depression, and compulsive overeaters often eat alone to avoid letting others know how much they binge on food.

Overeating is also not the same as eating more protein to gain muscle mass. Overeating simply involves eating too much, inhaling your food at warp speed or eating when you're not hungry. Since men typically have bigger appetites than women, overeating often goes unnoticed in men, and is not seen as a problem.

Although overeating in men is less severe than an eating disorder, it is still unhealthy and can be a symptom of a problem in another aspect of your life.

There are many different reasons why men overeat. To better understand if you are, in fact, overeating, you need to be aware of the different catalysts that may spark unhealthy and unnecessary food consumption.

1- Boredom (aka "couch potato syndrome")

You may overeat because there's nothing better to do. Think about it: All of your buddies are busy with their girlfriends and the only thing worth watching on TV is the Discovery Channel special on bats — and you've already seen it, twice. But, hey, it'll be a lot more interesting if you watch it while eating a bag of chips, right?

Many men also eat just for the sake of eating, even when the TV isn't on. Eating is a visceral, sensory activity, and charges up the senses — which is why eating is often seen as a form of entertainment in and of itself. Sure, it might be fun, but it's not the kind of hobby that will help your golf game or make you a more engaging conversationalist.